Freewheeling mechanism



C. E. STARR FREEV'JHEELING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 1935 /NVEN7'0P` CHARLES E. STAP/P, .Daz-.45m

BY MJ@ HEP ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1936 I UN ETE 2,064,230 FREEWHEELENG MECHANISM Charles E. Starr, deceased, late of Inglewood, Calif., by Eva M. Starr, of Inglewood, Calif., administratrix, assigner to Perfecto Gear Differential Co., Bellingham, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application March 14, 1935, Serial No. 11,034

1 Claim. (Cl. 19E-48) The invention relates to a free wheeling connectionis preferably effected by an extenmechanism, and particularly to a mechanism sion 4 inserted in the en d of the torque tube which may be inserted in the propeller shaft of and secured by the rivets 6, A tubular portion a vehicle. l having a fiange Vil is provided at the opposite Another object of the invention is the proend of the housing and is secured to the en- 5 vision of means whereby the operator may op larged body portion 2 `by suitable means, as by tionally include an overrunning clutch in the the screws 9 passing through the flange 8. The propulsion system of the vehicle, or may exclude outer end of the housing portion l is provided it `from operation therewith. with a ange Il adapted to be secured to a rear l Another object of the invention is to provide axle housing l2 by suitable screws I3. l0 a free wheeling mechanism of the character The pinion I4, which meshes with the masdescribed in which simpliiied means are proter gear Vof the rear axle, is provided withan vided for including or excluding the overrunextension I6 journaled in a bearing Il. A tubuning clutch from the propulsion system. lar extension I8 of the axle housing serves to 15 A further object of the invention is the prosupport the bearing Il, and suitable means, such 16 vision of a free wheeling mechanism which may as the locknuts I9 and shoulders 2| and 22, be readily installed in vehicles not originally serve to secure the pinion and its bearing `in equipped with such a device. position. A driven shaft 23, axially aligned with The invention possesses other objects and feathe driving shaft 24, is secured in the pinion tures of advantage, some of which, with the by a key 26. Nut 2 serves to prevent axial 20 foregoing, will be set forth in the following demovement of the shaft in the pinion. Splines scription of the invention. It is to be understood 28 and 29 are formed on the opposing ends of that the invention is not limited to this disthe shafts 23 and 24 to provide driving connecclosure of species of the invention, as variant tion with other parts of the mechanism.

25 embodiments thereof may be adopted within A bell-shaped rotor is provided on the inner 25l the scope of the claims. end of the driven shaft 23 and has a hub por- Referring to the drawing: tion 3l splined on the latter shaft and jour- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing naled in the housing in a suitable bearing 32. the free wheeling mechanism installed in the Packing washer 33, disposed between the houspropeller shaft of a vehicle. ing and hub and held by the Washers 34, is 30 Figure 2 iS a SeCtOhal View through the overpreferably provided for confining the lubricant. running clutch. The plane in which the section The flared portion 36 of the rotor terminates in is taken is indicated by the line 2-2 of Figan annular iiange portion 31 which is disposed ure 1. in axial alignment with the shafts. This flange Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the sleeve provides the outer bearing ring for the over- 35V shifting mechanism. The plane of section is inrunning clutch.

dicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 1. The shape of the rotor portion 36 is such as to Figure 4 is a fragmental view in section of one provide a recess 38 in which `internal clutch of the clutch rollers and the mounting thereteeth 39 are disposed. Journaled in the ring 40 for. The plane of section is indicated by the 3l is the cam ring 4l of the overrunning clutch. 4,0V

line 4 4 of Figure 2. Internal clutch teeth 42 are formed on the camA Broadly stated, the free wheeling mechanism ring and mesh with complementary teeth 43 embodying the invention comprises aV fixed formed at one end of a sleeve 44 slidably splined housing preferably forming a part of the torque on the driving shaft 24. Teeth 43 on the sleeve 45 tube of an automobile. A pair of shafts and are also adapted to mesh with the clutch teeth 45 an overrunning clutch are arranged in the hous- S9 on the rotor.

ing, and means are provided for optionally lock- The overrunning clutch construction is best ing the shafts together for rotation as one or shown in Figure 2. As here shown, Vnotches 46 connecting the shafts through the overrunning are provided in the periphery of the cam ring 50 clutch. 4l. The bottom 41 of each of the notches Vis 50 In greater detail, the preferred form of free disposed angularly with the periphery of the wheeling mechanism embodying the invention cam ring to make the notch deeper at one end comprises a housing having a main body porthan at the other. A roller 48 is disposed in tion 2 adapted to be connected in and form a each notch, so as to contact-the bottom thereof part of the torque tube 3 of a vehicle. This and the inner surface 49 of the bearing ring; 5il

and a thrust block I is provided, on the concave face of which the roller 48 is adapted to seat. A leaf spring 52, secured to the block by a rivet 53 and bearing against the side 54 of the notch, serves to Wedge the roller between the surfaces 41 and 49. A plate 55, secured in the ange 3l by means of the snap ring 51, provides for the retention of the rollers and thrust blocks in the ring notches.

Means are provided for shifting the sleeve 44 to lock the drive and driven shafts together for rotation as one, thereby rendering the overrunning clutch inoperative. For this purpose a groove 58 is provided in the sleeve, in Which the half collar 59 is journaled. Formed on the collarA are studs 6i engaged by the forked ends 62 of a shifting yoke 63. A shaft 64, to which the yoke is connected by suitable means, such as the pin E6, has at one end thereof a lever 61. Rod 68 is provided to connect the lever 61 With a suitable shifting lever located adjacent the drivers seat.

Means are preferably provided for latching the sleeve in a selected position. Formed on one arm of the yoke 63 are a pair of indentations 69 corresponding to the two operating positions of the sleeve. A plunger 1l is provided slidable in a tubular projection I2 of the housing and having a pointed end 'i3 which is adapted to seat in one or the other of the indentations. A spring 14, compressed between the plunger and a retaining plug 'I6 threaded into the projection 12, urges the pointed end of the plunger into engagement with the indentations.

In the position of the sleeve as shown in Figure 1 the overruning clutch is included in the propulsion system of the vehicle. While free wheeling is desirable under certain operating conditions, it is undesirable under others. By manipulation of a shifting lever conveniently at hand adjacent the drivers seat the sleeve, 44 may be shifted so that the teeth 43 thereon engage the clutch teeth 39 xed for rotation with the driven shaft 23. As a result the drive and driven shafts are locked together for unitary rotation, and the overrunning clutch is rendered inoperative.

What is claimed is:

A free Wheeling mechanism comprising a housing adapted to be interposed in the torque tube of an automobile, said housing comprising an enlarged forward portion and a rear bearing portion, means connecting the housing portions together, a driven shaft journaled in the rear portion of the housing, a shiftable driving element in the forward portion of the housing and axially aligned with the driven shaft, a bell shaped rotor fixed for rotation with the inner end of the driven shaft and projecting into the enlarged forward portion of the housing, said rotor enclosing the inner end of the driving element and having an annular portion providing a bearing ring, a cam ring encircling the Shiftable element and journaled in the bearing ring, clutch teeth on the cam ring, clutch teeth on the shiftable element slidably engageable withthe teeth on the cam ring, said rotor having an open recess between the cam ring and the point where the rotor is fixed to the driven shaft and into which the driving element may be shifted, clutch teeth in said recess of the rotor with which the teeth on the shiftable element may be engaged, and means for shifting said element.

EVA M. STARR, Administratrix of the Estate of Charles E. Starr,

Deceased. 

